The Midnight Cry

Hearken to the solemn voice

Author: Charles Wesley
Published in 29 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. Hearken to the solemn voice,
the awful midnight cry;
Waiting souls, rejoice, rejoice,
and see the Bridegroom nigh;
Lo! He comes to keep His Word,
light and joy His looks impart;
Go ye forth to meet your Lord, and meet Him in your heart.

2. Ye who faint beneath the load
of sin, your heads lift up;
See your great redeeming God,
He comes, and bids you hope:
In the midnight of your grief,
Jesus doth His mourners cheer;
Lo! He brings you sure relief;
believe, and feel Him here.

3. Ye whose loins are girt, stand forth!
Whose lamps are burning bright,
Worthy, in your Savior’s worth,
to walk with Him in white:
Jesus bids your hearts be clean,
bids you all His promise prove;
Jesus comes to cast out sin,
and perfect you in love.

4. Wait we all in patient hope,
till Christ, the Judge, shall come,
We shall soon be all caught up
to meet the general doom:
In an hour to us unknown,
as a thief in deepest night,
Christ shall suddenly come down,
with all His saints in light.

5. Happy he whom Christ shall find
watching to see Him come;
Him the Judge of all mankind
shall bear triumphant home:
Who can answer to His Word?
Which of you dares meet His day?
Rise, and come to judgment!—Lord,
we rise, and come away.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #2232

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Hearken to the solemn voice
Title: The Midnight Cry
Author: Charles Wesley
Meter: 7.6.7.6.7.7.7.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

PILGRIM (Bradbury)


CHICKASAW


AMSTERDAM (Foundery Collection)

Variation of Hille's SERVICE. For more tune info, see "Hymn Tune Index" (http://hymntune.library.illinois.edu) 1648a-d. Note how attributions to James Nares don't appear until after 1820.

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #2232
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The Cyber Hymnal #2232

Include 28 pre-1979 instances
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